Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-10-15
DIVISION
Some Of the Reasons Put Forth
by the Fargo Convention.

Some Of the Reasons Put Forth
by the Fargo Convention.
The following address and resolutions
were adopted by the division conven-
ton at Fargo on the Sd:
To tho Voters of North Dakota: Pur-
suant to law an election is to be held on
the coming eighth Of November to take
the sense of the people of Dakota as to
a division of the territory "upon an east
and west line upon the seventh standard
parallel" The ballot to be cast must
haye either written or printed thereon,
"For Division" or against Division.'
Returns OF the vote are to be made as at
general election, and the result in the
territory at large is to be communicated
by the Governor to the President and
Congress of the United States.
We are thus confronted with an issue in
which every citizen of Dakota has a deep
interest-nOt only for himself alone, but
for all who shall come after him. Shall
this vast section OF the northwest, en-
bracing an area of 10000 square miles,
become and remain forever one state in
the Union, with only w votes in the
United States senate? Or, shall it be di-
vidcd into W territories, n be ulti-
mately admitted as two states, with four
votes at it's command for the protection
OF northwestern interests? This is the
issue on which every voter is asked to
express his opinion at the ballot box.
If tho people of Dakota are themselves
willing to abdicate their rights, and to
accept W senators as against TWENTY
w from al equal area in the east, lem
bracing all New England, New York,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia. the res
| nonsihi1itu for cnnh n 1icr,o ooF11 i, 80
render will be all their own. Butifthey
are unwilling to go into the Union thus
shorn of their rightful power, they have
but to speak in the thunder tone of their
half million of voices to be heard and
needed at the capital of the nation.
But vitality important and far-reaching
as is the question of additional senator's
whose vote may seal the fate of policies
affecting the northwest, there are many
other considerations, scarcely less potent
which render division n necessity. We
1 are all interested in securing an intel
ligent, honest and economical admins
tration OF public affairs; but there is
good reason to doubt whether such q
government is possible, in so large a ter
ritory under our Republican forms.
In Dakota tho people practically have
no voice in territorial conventions; the
distances are so great that large sections
are HoV iepICSeilICu ny ueicSattS III
person, but proxies, furnished to order,
enable sharp managers to control NOM
nations. Legislators, also, are so far
removed from the people as to weaken
the sense of responsibility; when section
al j%ealousies make a bear.garden of the
halls of legislation, OF which advantage
is taken by lobbyists to defeat prom
ised reforms, and secure unright-
eous laws. The history of Dakota
legislation is a record Of sectional in
trigues, crude laws, shameful protiigacy
and defiance OF the popular will. The OBJ
vious remedy is to reduce the area by
division; cut off the sectional euds; bring
the government nearer to the people
and stop the log rolling of twin sets OF
public institutions to reach the very bot
tom OF the trasury. Besides, official rec
ords disclose the fact that very large
states are moro expensive to govern than
smaller ones, the rule being the smaller
the state the lower the tax, which may
be accepted as proof that Dakota, divid-
cd into w states, will DO more cheaply
governed than as one
In addition to these considerations,
which affect both sections equally, there
are others which may we'll induce the
people Of North Dakota to give a solid
vote for division. The territorial capital
is now located north of the proposed line
of separation, while the voting power OF
the territory, by an overwhelming ma
jority, is found south of that limo. The
south is largely for division, and il the
north should falter on the present issue
can she expect to retain tho capital
There is food for thought in this inquiry,
and III the further suggestion that, us
one state, tho south would continue tn
hold the balance of power, and by COM
blnations with Central Dakota will be
practically able to disregard The inter.
ests and wishes of tho north, in the leg.
islaturc, and i'll conventions, and to shut
her out from equal participation in hon.
ors and benefits. In this connection il
is uuwise to lose sight Of the fact tina
the territory is practically divided now
in it's sympathies, as we'll as in its ma.
torial interests; that southern indus.
tries center towards Chicago and north.
ern industries toward the twin cities and
the great lakes; that each section has its
separate public institutions: that all the
various religious orders draw a dividing
line on the seventh standard parallel
and that the antagonisms of the two
sections crop out whenever they meel
i'll representative assemblies. From ali
which it is clear that the weakest will
inevitably be driven to the wall, if fOrccc
into III unnatural and permanent union
North Dakota can hardly DO so foolish a.
to accept the hazards OF perpetual mi
nority, when thus warned ofthe prob
able fate in store for her.
If there arc those who have opposed dl
vision i'll their anxiety for early state
hood, it may be we'll for them to paus,
} and reflect whether the road they hav,
, been travelling will soonest lead to TIL
object of their desire. South Dakot,
> has marshaled her host directly across
: their path. She has declared her pur
pose, and will make it clearer than eve
before at the November poll, that sh,
will resist to the utmost any attempt a
, admission rs one state. Having it il
J from Dakota, she will make her pur
pose good. And while her treatment O,
tho north, during her recent race fol
statehood, was not altogether just ant
proper, yet as we are only concerned
with this issue now presented, we may
congratulate ourselves that her position
is unexceptionable. She declares TO
division on the seventh standard par
tallel-which obviates the danger of di
s with the border lines and also protfer,
! an equal share in the title of world wide
rcnown by advocating that tho names O
: North Dakota and South Dakota begivel
t to tho proposed separate parts. Or this
f. basis she invites the north to join III Sc
curing a verdict "by tho people, for tn
{ people," in favor ofdivision, and to pro
! nounce it with an emphasis that will
forever dispcl and silonce any pretens,
hereafter OF the part Of congress, or tn
national executive, 'to find out wha
D the people Of Dakota want"
|, The manner OF DakOta's treatment b
the national government is without
parallel in the history of the nation. !
half million American freeman are, an
have beer for years, denied the commo
riuhts Of Observation-Disclosures